Puddle plug



April 5, 1927 H w. KLINCK PUDDLE PLUG Filed Jan. 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheengwuantoz w. M. J

i W m Q a a m m Ap 1927; H. w. KLINC'K FUDDLE PLUG Filed Jan. 16. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 compact fill.

face or the roadway.

Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

HARRY W. KLINCK, G32 LGGANS'PORT, INDIANA.

PUDDLE PLUG.

Application filed January 16, 1926. Serial No. 81,751.

This invention relates to puddle plugs, that is to say, it belongs tothat class or devices useful in the back filling of trenches dug in theearth in laying water mains and pip-es. In ordinary practice, after thepipe has been laid, it is necessary to replace the earth in the trench,and it is loosely shoveled in and must be firmly tamped down to avoidsinking and leaving a depression at the sur- It is a considerable aid toeffective refilling of atrench to settle the earth with water, making amuch more The use of the water is colloquially termed puddling. For thepurpose ot carrying out such water treatment of the earth, thisinvention is believed to be especially convenient and advantageous. Manywaterworks men have found it impossible to puddle their ditches withoutlaying a large length of fire hose, or waiting until they have finishedlaying the job. Sometimes the length may reach one thousand feet ormore, thus running chances of ac cidents and damage suits resulting fromthe presence of the unfilled trench and persons or machines falling intothe same. By the use of this invention the workmen can keep the trenchback filled right up to the diggers. This invention may also be used aswell for temporary repair jobs in case of a broken main.

In the accompanying drawings of the preferred form of this invention,Fig. 1 represents a sectional view lengthwise of the puddle plugsomewhat enlarged.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the end normally exposed.

Fig. 3 is an end element. I

Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section of a por tion of a water pipe, showingthis invention in section therein with the packing ring cxpanded. V f

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively side and top plan views on "a reducedscale, showing this invention in operating position in a trench. V

Throughout the drawings and descrip tion, the same number is used torefer to the same part.

The plug or closure 1 has an internal chamber 2, and terminates at oneend in a throat 3, closed by screw plug 3 and through which passes theoperating rod 4, which has a threaded end 5 and a projecting squared end6 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or a view showing the holder alreadylaid. Or, a

screw threaded end as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and in either case therod is adapted to receive an appropriate tool. WVithin the throat 3 willbe noted the collar 5 fixed on rod 4. The rod is thus held by the screwplug Pf and the throat against substatial movement lengthwise in eitherdirection.

The closure or plug has the pipe connection 7.

The other end of the plug or closure is the end to be inserted into theuncovered end'ot the water pipe in the trench. It will be best noted inFigs. 1 and 4 that the end portion of the plug 1 has an inclined edge 8,and against that inclined edge is Placed the correspondingly inclinededge portion 9 of a packing ring 10. The packing ring engages and iscarried by a holder 11, having a shouldered annular part 12 in'which thepacking ring is seated. The clamping rod 4 engages the holder as shown.The holder may have the openings 13 to admit water to the chamber of theclosure, but this service of water may obviously be equally wellaccomplished in other ways, and the construction of the holder exactlyas described is not intended to limitthis invention. Furthermore, theshape of the closure and its size may be readily modified within thepurview of this invention.

7 From Fig. i the operation will be best understood. The end of theclosure bearing the holder is inserted into the exposed end l l ofawater pipe 15 in a trench 16. and by turning end 6 the packing will beforced against the inclined edge of the closure 1 and thereby expandedinto a water tight joint with 15. There are numerous known mechanicalarrangements fOr, accomplishing such joints,

and this invention is not confined to the exact devices illustrated forthe purpose. The water pipe being now filled, it will. be understoodthat theoutside or distributing pipe 17 in communication with the pipeconnection 7' will lead the water backward to be applied to the earthfill over the water pipes given distance of the trench in advance of theend of the water pipe having the closure may be laid and the interior ofthe water pipe 'I earth filled, and the pipe 17 led in the otherdirection to puddle such filling, a suitable connection being madethereafter between the laid sections of water pipe. Thus, the outsidepipe 17 leads Water to any distance in the general direction of thewater pipe.

Having now described this invention, and explained the manner of itsuse, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is 1. In a device of the character described, the combinationwith a. water pipe, of a chambered plug for insertion horizontally intothe open end of the water pipe, means for rendering the connectionbetween the plug and pipe water tight, and a pipe in co1n municationwith the chamber oi the plug for leading the water tor a distance in thegeneral direction of the water pipe.

2. In a device of the character described. the combination with a waterpipe, ot' a closure for the end of the pipe adapted for till insertionhorizontally into the end of the said pipe in a trench, means forrendering communication between the closure and water pipe water tight,the said closure having a passage through it and provided. with a pipeconnection, and a pipe in communication with the said passage in theclosure to lead water therefrom for adistance in the general directionof the water pipe.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a waterpipe, of a closure for the end of the pipe adapted for insertion thereinhorizontally at the bottom of a trench, means carried by the said devicetor packing the connection between the closure device and the pipe watertight, the said closure having a passage through it and provided with apipe connection, a pipe in comn'iunication with the said connection andarranged to lead water therefrom backward tor a distance in the generaldirection of the water pipe.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a waterpipe, of a closure for the end of the pipe adapted for insertion. intothe said end in a trench, an expansible packing ring, means operable atthe bottom of a trench from the outer'end of the said device forexpanding the said packing to make the joint between the said closuredevice and the said pipe water tight, the said closure having a passagethrough it and provided with a pipe connection, a. pipe in communicationwith the said connection and arranged to lead water from the saidpassage in the closure backward in. the general direction of the saidwater pipe.

5. In a device of thechara-cter described, the combination with a waterpipe, of a closure for the exposed end of the pipe adapted to beinserted into the endin a trench, an expansible packing ring havingnormally the same diameter as the closure, means extending through thesaid closure and operablefrom the outer end thereof to expand thepacking ring to make the joint between the said closure and water pipewater tight, thesaid closure having an internal chamber, openin s formedthrough the end of the closure to pass water from the ater pipe into thesaid chamber, the said closure having pipe connection, and a pipe incommunication with the said connection to lead water from the saidchamber backward in the general direction of the said water pipe.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a waterpipe, of a closure for the end of the pipe arranged to be insertedtherein in a trench, the said closure carrying a packing ring having aninclined edge portion, the said closure having a corresponding inclinededge portion in contact with the said inclined edge portion of thepacking ring, a holder for the packing ring, a rod attached to the saidholder and passing through the closure, the said rod having threadedend, means for turning the other end of the rod on the outer end of thesaid closure whereby the said holder is forced against the packing toexpand the same into a water tight joint with the water pipe, the saidclosure having a passage through it and provided with a pipe connection,the said holder having an opening through it in communication with thesaid passage of the closure, and a pipe in communication with the saidconnection for leading water to a distance in the general direction ofthe said water pipe.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a. waterpipe, of a closure for the end of the pipe adapted to be insertedtherein in a trench, the said closure having an internal chamber and apipe connection in connnunicationtherewith, the said closure carrying apacking ring having an inclined edge portion, the said closure having aninclined edge portion arranged in contact'with the said edge portion ofthe packing ring, a holder for the packing ring forming the end of thesaid closure within the said water pipe and having openings admittingwater into the said chamber of the closure. a rod attached to the saidholder and passing through the closure, the said rod having a threadedend, means for turning the end of the rod at the outer end of theclosure whereby the. said holder is forced against the packing to expandthe same into water tight connection with the water pipe, and a pipe incommunication with the pipe connection of the-holder for leading waterfor a distance in the general direction of the water pipe. i

In testimony whereof I aflixmv signature.

HARRY W. KLI-NCK.

